*Shakes Head*

Professor S · 08-08-2006, 11:42 PM

Well Joe Leiberman has conceded the democratic nomination for his encumbancy for the fall election. Many liberal democrats may see this as a victory and a proxy vote against President Bush... but I see something else coming out of this. I see the democrats in that state and the heads of the national party ending up with a LOT of egg on their faces.

Here's why: Leiberman is now running as an independent, ignoring calls from his own party not to do so. Polls of the entire constituency of Connecticut show Leiberman not to be the underdog in the general election, but the run-away favorite. I believe the last poll of both parties gave him a double digit lead (the data may be old, correct me if I'm wrong).

So, Leiberman runs, will most likely win the election through bipartisan support and makes his democratic constuency look impotent and his own party look like fools for not supporting him. So you'll have a democrat retaining his office but the democratic party will take a severe and very public blow.

How the democratic party couldn't have seen this happening before their eyes astounds me. They've made a guaranteed victory into a potential national joke.

And NO. Leiberman running will not allow the Republican to take the seat. God Himself couldn't will that to happen Connecticut.

Crash · 08-09-2006, 02:28 AM

pssst. it's lieberman You'll remember that, because he is a LYING sob.

Always trying to take away my video games. May he be beaten up.

Professor S · 08-09-2006, 07:20 AM

Actually Lieberman just asked the industry to regulate itself and has, in fact, PRAISED the industry for creating the ESRB which he considers the most thorough regulating body in all of entertainment. Now if they would just ENFORCE those ratings...

And none of this has anything to do with what I posted. He is still most likely going to win the election without his party's nomination or support (unless the democrats do the smart thing and jump on board his train now).

Neo · 08-09-2006, 10:22 AM

I groaned when I heard Lieberman say he was going to run anyway. I wish he would just fade away.

Professor S · 08-09-2006, 12:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Neo

I groaned when I heard Lieberman say he was going to run anyway. I wish he would just fade away.

Why should he when he'll win the general election?

Dylflon · 08-09-2006, 02:29 PM

We don't need to worry about liberal candidates, guys.

Since congress passed that vote to give Bush the power to do basically anything he wants, I'm sure he'll find a way to extend his presidency indefinately.

Xantar · 08-09-2006, 02:51 PM

First of all, the latest poll numbers I've been able to find show that in a three way race, Lamont and Lieberman are neck and neck. Lieberman is certainly not the runaway favorite. That poll was taken on July 20, and I'm not aware of anybody else taking any new polls of the general population since then.

Secondly, there are a lot of things that can happen in between now and November. I don't necessarily think Lamont will win the general election. What I do know is that we don't have a clue who will win at this point. This primary changes a lot of things.

For one thing, as a result of this primary, Ned Lamont has received the support of Hillary Clinton, Evan Bayh, Barbara Boxer and John Edwards. Yeah yeah, I know, I don't like Hillary either. But that kind of support will count for a lot in Connecticut. Lamont has also already received the support of institutional lobbying groups like Connecticut unions. Lieberman's campaign funding will take a huge hit from this primary. Americans don't like losers.

Also, the turnout for the primary was something like 50% which is literally record-breaking. With that many Democrats supporting Lamont, Lieberman would have to win a sizable majority of unaffiliated voters in Connecticut which is not a sure thing at all since "independent" in Connecticut usually means "too liberal for the Democrats."

And then there's the question of Schlessinger. The smartest thing Republicans could do is get him to drop out because his support base would largely break for Lieberman over Lamont. But there's no indication yet that he will do that.

Anyway, the Democratic Party establishment did in fact see this coming, and they gave a lot of support to Lieberman. For whatever reason, Lamont won anyway. And I would also point out that as recently as late June, Lamont was trailing Lieberman in polls. We've got twice as much time from now until November, and there's simply no telling which way the polls will go in that amount of time.